Lately, I've just been in the mood to feel inspired, I completely give credit to the changing seasons for my newfound excitement for life. There is just something so charming and alluring about the crisp weather and changing, colorful leaves. Invigorating is the word that comes to mind. Uh, I just love autumn. I am ready to curl up in cozy loungewear and watch Harry Potter while drinking mulled wine on the couch (or fancy tea if alcohol isn't the vibe). Doesn't that sound like a dream? I am ready to have a magical fall! And you know what they say.. a photo is worth a thousand words. These pictures emulate so many things about fall that are warming my soul. I hope they inspire you to live a full and exciting autumn. 

Even though we are still in the midst of a pandemic, there are still a billion ways for us to safely (and frugally) have fun. I plan to use this seasonal mood board as my guide and inspiration for fall. If you end up creating one for yourself, I hope you tag me so we can share what's inspiring us this season. I guess I'm kind of a dreamer.. but this is where dreams meet action plans. As long as we give ourselves a break and do one small thing each day to fuel our soul, we'll slowly but surely start to realize how incredible even the smallest joys in life can be when it comes to helping us live a fulfilling life. 

Retail Therapy Break

Of course one of my favorite parts about fall is the FASHIONNNN! Here are a few items I've been eyeing and recently purchased myself. Slowly I'll add them to my wardrobe because homegirl needs to fix her finances.. but I can responsibly treat myself along the way, and so can you because this pandemic life is not for the faint of heart. 

What about fall is making you feel all warm and fuzzy? Let me know in the comments below! I'd love to add more fun fall things to my list. Thanks for taking a moment out of your day to read this post. Your support means so much to me. Sending you love and happiness. 

Photo by Linus Mimietz

Before the world went into disarray, I rarely cooked and ate dinner at home. My evenings consisted of dance classes in the city or picking up something quick to eat after a long day of work. That being said, I barely made an effort to turn dinner at home into a luxurious experience. But ever since lock-down began, I'm really starting to see and reap the benefits of a slow and lovely home-cooked dinner. And there are so many small, affordable, and impactful ways to take any ordinary dinner at home up a notch to make it feel like a treat. Here are a few ways I plan on turning more dinners at home into a warm and cozy experience:

• Drink a glass of wine (or 420 it) and play music while cooking. TBH, this is the only way I actually enjoy cooking. I need to be entertained while I'm cooking or else it feels like a chore. 
• Light a Candle and dim the lights. This is the easiest way to totally change the atmosphere and pretend like you are dining in a nice restaurant.
• Pick up fresh flowers for the table. Trader Joes has such cute and cheap floral options. Plus you can shop stress-free since TJs has really great social distancing practices. 
• Put on a classic movie while eating. There is something just so romantic and enchanting about old Hollywood movies. One of my favorites is Clue (1985). It's honestly hilarious, the fashion is fun and the movie is a little dark... aka it's right up my alley. 
• Plan a virtual dinner party with friends and play a game. Virtual charades sounds hella fun in my opinion. You can assign everyone to teams and each player can donate $5 to go to a charity that the winning team gets to select. 
• Add a fun dessert to the menu. There are so many healthy alternatives to our favorite desserts now so even if you are watching what you eat, you can find a way to indulge a little. 
• Wear something you feel cute in. A white cozy wrap sweater and white cotton shorts make such a cute and comfy outfit. I personally feel a lot more inspired when I feel cute. Just adds a little more umph to my day, plus you're ready to take a thirst trap and send it to your Snapchat bae or IG story (don't act like you don't do this because we all do).   

This is a ritual I want to continue for the rest of my life. Obviously, it's impractical to tell myself that every single night I'll do this... but one to two times a week sounds easy enough. Cheers to enjoying the slower moments in life. Wishing you and your loved ones a cozy and lovely day.

Photo by Mgg Vitchakorn

As I grow older,  I continue to realize how temporary "the bad times" are. Last week, I was not in a very healthy mental space... like at all. But as I sit on this pink, faux suede couch, on the second floor of a new workspace,  waiting for my sneakers to dry from the intense rainstorm, I am in awe at how blissful I am. And to be honest, nothing extraordinary has happened today. I spent all of Friday night alone (which I know I needed in order to reset), woke up early this morning and then headed into the city for dance class and to get some work done. After I leave this office, I'm walking to East Village to cook dinner with two friends and relax.